Monday, October 25, 2010

Interviewing Peter Mandelson

On Wednesday I shall be interviewing Lord Mandelson for my next 'In Conversation' interview for Total Politics. As usual, if you've got suggestions for what I might ask him, do feel free to leave a comment.

Hello, I am in north Africa. What has Cherie said today, where ?! Trailing yet another book ?I am not sure whatever happened to Roy. Why did he turn against Tony ? Perhaps it was the early endorsement by the Gang of Four that discombobulated him. At least he cannot be accused of following fashion, as he sort of invented it.What would be the credo of the foundation ? When you stripped away the rhetoric, I do not think it would be different from the tenets of New Labour: economic stability/fiscal rules; public services investment and reform; income and opportunity re distribution to the poor; internationalism thru Europe and atlantic alliance.On the other hand, we are going to need quite a few foundations to keep the party looking forward after the next election.love peter

Here's a few questions that I wanted to pose to Peter Mandelson in October 2008, perhaps yuou could oblige:

1. If Peter Mandelson has to "uphold the interests of the European Communities" in order to receive his enormous EU pension then is he liable to act against the interests of the UK in order to safeguard his financial future?

6. If his pension does not start paying out until he is 60 then is his pension at risk if he defies the EU between now and then?

Mind you I doubt that it matters what you ask Peter Mandelson, the chances of getting a straight answer are all but nil.

1. Why did he return to government to prop up a man who was not popular in the country and who ousted Tony Blair?2. Why did he persuade members of the Cabinet not to remove GB?3. Why did he provide a loan to Sheffield Forgemasters and yet write in his book that the government were spending too much before the election?4. Is he angry that he has been turned into some sort of villain again which is not fair?5. I am devastated that David Miliband did not become leader. Is he and does he think Ed Miliband is up to the job?6. Why is the present labour party denying their part in the huge deficit?7. Does he feel guilty at receiving 2 years resettlement allowance of some £8,000 a month from the EU?8. Does he intend to become a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. It seems to be doing Ann Widdecombe no harm and she can not move.9. Does he get on with the buffoon Neil Kinnock who has got his party back but it may be in the wilderness for years?10. What are his plans for the future as it is obvious that the new leader has distanced himself from the successful party grandees from the past?11. I still admire him......

As we get older, we all change in many ways. You, and many of your former colleagues, made a striking movement from various shades of hard left to where you stood from 1997. How do you account for that, given that many retain their political beliefs and loyalties for a lifetime?

For some years now you have enjoyed a rather special status, in that you have influenced a government, without being held accountable by the people, as you have not been elected or stood for office;(some would say and argue that with your previous form you are unelectable.)

Do you not feel that that is unacceptable in the 21st Century for this to be so, and would not your socialist forebears, Morrison and Margadale be turning in their graves squirming with the embarassment of it all.

Ask him if he thinks with hindsight it was a mistake to have reacted as he did when he was outed by Matthew Parris. To try to prevent the BBC mentioning he is gay implies that there is something shameful about it.

Intra-company transfers were designed to be used to fill senior positions where company-specific knowledge or experience is needed, But in practise are being used to fill entry to mid-level roles in which the skills used are largely standard and already available in the UK. Intra-company transfers are being done on an industrial scale

how many indian nationals are on the uk payroll of these companies?TataInfosysWiproCognizantMahindra SatyamHCLAccentureCapgeminiIBM

could anyone hazard a guess at how many come in from India on ICT visas for these companies every year? to be subcontracted into other companies undercutting the british workforce?how many family members are brought in with them? how many remain here after entering on ICT visas originally in previous years? how many ICT entrants have been given indefinite leave to remain or citizenship simply for working here?how many foreign national children of non EC work visa holders are getting a state eduction in a british school?how many beds of the nhs total beds in the uk are taken up by family members of ICT visa holders with no other rights to be in this country?

how many ICT visa entrants are doing nothing other than systematically moving british IP to india?

@No one. No use in blaming the Lord Sleaze. He is past. I e-mailed Damien Green, Teresa May,10 downing Street and Vince Cable about this problem. Green answered saying he noted it. But then there has to be proactive concerted effect from all British IT professionals to stop this and as well as large scale university admissions from India in UG, PG and even doctoral levels , many of them get bursaries.

Diane Abbot on the Front bench,Sadiq Khan Shadow Justice Sec, Livingstone backing an independent,Ed miliband saying labour were wrong on DNA, ASBO's ,Kinnocks wev'e got our party back comment, that Idiot Charlie whelan saying if was your running of the elction campaign that lost Gordon the election,Livingstone saying the Unions are running labour again,Will Andy Burnham take over as leader of the opposition after the next election is lost

Would you ask him whether he took money or "promises" from any particular companies (unnamed, obviously) during the time of the Digital Economy Bill, or was the thing one great massive flippin' coincidence. If you ask it like that, Iain, I'll vote Ann Widecombe on Strictly (if it's still on, my telly broken).

Can you ask the twice removed from cabinet, unelected European commissioner, unelected Lord, unelected (ex) government minister what he meant by the phrase "post democratic age" and what he discussed at the Bilderberg group?